Optical assembly, grating assembly, wavelength selection switch and optical cross connection equipment

Abstract

The embodiment of the invention discloses an optical assembly, a grating assembly, a wavelength selection switch and an optical cross connection device. The optical assembly comprises a first surface and a second surface which are respectively positioned at two ends of the optical assembly, wherein the first surface comprises a first sub-surface, a second sub-surface and a third sub-surface; the first sub-surface is used for receiving a first light beam input from the outside; the second surface is used for receiving the first light beam from the first sub-surface and reflecting the first light beam to the second sub-surface; the second sub-surface is provided with a grating assembly which is used for emitting a plurality of sub-beams according to dispersion of the received first beam. The second surface is also used for receiving the plurality of sub-beams from the second sub-surface and reflecting the plurality of sub-beams to the third sub-surface; and the third sub-surface is used for outputting each sub-light beam from the optical assembly. According to the embodiment of the invention, the optical signal transmission performance can be optimized.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of optical communication, and particularly to an optical component, a grating component, a wavelength selective switch, and an optical cross-connect device. Background Art

[0002] A wavelength selective switch is a device used in an optical communication network, mainly for dynamically selecting and routing optical signals of different wavelengths. The wavelength selective switch is a key component in a wavelength division multiplexing system, which allows network operators to flexibly configure the paths and wavelengths of optical signals according to needs, thereby improving the flexibility and efficiency of the network.

[0003] In a wavelength selective switch, the optical signal to be modulated needs to pass through multiple discrete components during the process of being transmitted to the spatial light modulator, occupying a large spatial size, and there is an air medium between the discrete components. The signal light needs to repeatedly pass through the air medium during propagation in the optical path, and impurities such as disturbances and dust particles in the air medium may reduce the signal transmission performance. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of the embodiments of this application is to provide an optical component, a grating component, a wavelength selective switch, and an optical cross-connect device.

[0005] In a first aspect, the embodiments of this application provide an optical component applied to a wavelength selective switch, including: a first surface and a second surface respectively located at two ends of the optical component; wherein, the first surface includes a first sub-surface, a second sub-surface, and a third sub-surface; the first sub-surface is used for receiving a first light beam input from the outside; the second surface is used for receiving the first light beam from the first sub-surface and reflecting the first light beam to the second sub-surface; a grating component is arranged on the second sub-surface, and the grating component is used for dispersing and emitting multiple sub-light beams according to the received first light beam; the second surface is further used for receiving the multiple sub-light beams from the second sub-surface and reflecting the multiple sub-light beams to the third sub-surface; the third sub-surface is used for outputting each sub-light beam from the optical component.

[0006] In a second aspect, the embodiments of this application provide a grating component, including grating units arranged periodically along a first direction, and the grating units are arc-shaped along a second direction; the first direction is orthogonal to the second direction; the grating component is used for dispersing and emitting multiple sub-light beams according to the received first light beam.

[0007] In a third aspect, the embodiments of this application provide a wavelength selective switch, including the optical component described in the first aspect above.

[0008] In a fourth aspect, the embodiments of this application provide an optical cross-connect device, including the wavelength selective switch described in the third aspect above.

[0009] The embodiments of the present application adopt the following technical solutions: The optical component includes: a first surface and a second surface respectively located at two ends of the optical component; wherein, the first surface includes a first sub-surface, a second sub-surface and a third sub-surface; the first sub-surface is used to receive a first light beam input from the outside; the second surface is used to receive the first light beam from the first sub-surface and reflect the first light beam to the second sub-surface; a grating component is arranged on the second sub-surface, and the grating component is used to disperse and emit a plurality of sub-light beams according to the received first light beam; the second surface is further used to receive the plurality of sub-light beams from the second sub-surface and reflect the plurality of sub-light beams to the third sub-surface; the third sub-surface is used to output each sub-light beam from the optical component.

[0010] The above at least one technical solution adopted by the embodiments of the present application can achieve the following beneficial effects: In the optical component, an optical signal transmitted in the form of a light beam is input from outside the optical component. The optical signal is transmitted to the second surface through the first sub-surface in the first surface, reflected to the second sub-surface through the second surface, and a plurality of sub-light beams are dispersed and emitted to the second surface by the grating component arranged on the second sub-surface according to the optical signal, and then reflected to the third sub-surface through the second surface and output from the optical component. In this way, the entire transmission process of the optical signal basically occurs inside the optical component, and there is no air medium, so the influence of disturbances and dust particles and other impurities in the air on the transmission of the optical signal can be avoided, which is beneficial to optimizing the transmission performance of the optical signal in the wavelength selection switch. Moreover, compared with multiple discrete components in the prior art, the entire optical component is integrally designed, which improves the component integration degree, reduces the space size, and simplifies the optical path design. Description of the Drawings

[0011] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in one or more embodiments of the present application or the prior art, the following will briefly introduce the drawings required for the description of the embodiments or the prior art. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments recorded in one or more embodiments of the present application. For those of ordinary skill in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative efforts.

[0012] Figure 1 It is a schematic structural diagram of a wavelength selection switch provided by an embodiment of the present application; Figure 2 It is a schematic structural diagram of an optical component provided by an embodiment of the present application; Figure 3 It is a schematic structural diagram of another optical component provided by an embodiment of the present application; Figure 4AIt is a schematic diagram of a grating component provided by an embodiment of the present application; Figure 4B It is a schematic diagram of another grating component provided by an embodiment of the present application; Figure 5 It is a schematic diagram of the principle of optical signal propagation provided by an embodiment of the present application; Figure 6 It is a schematic diagram of another principle of optical signal propagation provided by an embodiment of the present application. Detailed implementation manners

[0013] Embodiments of the present application provide an optical component, a grating component, a wavelength selective switch, and an optical cross-connect device.

[0014] In order to enable those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solutions in the present application, the following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present application, rather than all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present application.

[0015] The terms "first", "second", etc. in the description and claims of the present application are used to distinguish similar objects, rather than to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such terms can be interchanged under appropriate circumstances so that the embodiments of the present application can be implemented in an order other than those illustrated or described herein.

[0016] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of a wavelength selective switch provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0017] As Figure 1 shown, the wavelength selective switch at least includes the following elements: an optical fiber array 102, a microlens array 104, a polarization diversity unit 106, an aberration compensation unit 108, a dispersion primary mirror 110, a switching primary mirror 112, a grating 114, and an LCOS (Liquid Crystal on Silicon) 118.

[0018] Among them, the fiber optic array 102 is used to transmit and receive signal light; the microlens array 104 is used to realize the spot size transformation of the signal light; the polarization diversity unit 106 is used to decompose the transmitted light into signal lights with two orthogonal polarization states and synthesize the signal lights with two orthogonal polarization states into natural polarization received light; the aberration compensation unit 108 can be one or more optical elements, and each optical element may or may not have a focal power. The aberration compensation unit 108 is used to compensate for optical aberrations; the dispersion primary mirror 110 is an optical element with a focal power in the dispersion direction, and is used to realize the beam transformation in the dispersion direction; the switching primary mirror 112 is an optical element with a curvature in the port direction, and is used to realize the switching of different fiber ports; the grating 114 can disperse the incident light into multiple sub-wavelengths and propagate to the corresponding area of the LCOS 118. At the same time, it can synthesize different sub-wavelengths switched from the LCOS 118 into the received signal light and finally propagate to the receiving fiber port; the LCOS 118 is a spatial light modulator that can independently control each sub-pixel by applying a voltage to enable each sub-wavelength to deflect at different angles. Through the combination of the above elements, Figure 1 the provided wavelength selective switch can achieve the multiplexing / demultiplexing of signal light and the switching of different fiber ports.

[0019] Figure 1 Exemplarily shows the internal structure of a wavelength selective switch. In terms of design, the optical path design of this wavelength selective switch becomes complex, occupies a large size, and increases the cost; in terms of debugging, the debugging complexity increases, the debugging time is increased, and the cost is further increased; in terms of technology, the signal light has to pass through the air medium repeatedly in the optical path, and impurities such as disturbances and dust particles in the air will affect the performance, and hermetic packaging is required, which further increases the module cost of the wavelength selective switch.

[0020] In view of the above problems, the embodiment of the present application provides an optical component applied to a wavelength selective switch, so that the entire transmission process of the optical signal basically occurs inside the optical component, and there is no air medium, so the influence of impurities such as disturbances and dust particles in the air on the transmission of the optical signal can be avoided, which is beneficial to optimizing the transmission performance of the optical signal in the wavelength selective switch. Moreover, compared with multiple discrete elements in the prior art, the entire optical component is integrally designed, which improves the element integration degree, reduces the space size, and simplifies the optical path design.

[0021] Embodiment 1 Figure 2 is a schematic structural diagram of an optical component according to an embodiment of the present application. As Figure 2 shown, Embodiment 1 of the present application provides an optical component, which is applied to a wavelength selective switch. The optical component includes: The first surface 202 and the second surface 204 respectively located at both ends of the optical component.

[0022] Among them, the first surface 202 includes a first sub-surface 2022, a second sub-surface 2024, and a third sub-surface 2026.

[0023] The first sub-surface 2022 is configured to receive a first light beam input from the outside.

[0024] The second surface 204 is configured to receive the first light beam from the first sub-surface 2022 and reflect the first light beam to the second sub-surface 2024.

[0025] The second sub-surface 2024 is provided with a grating assembly, and the grating assembly is configured to disperse and emit a plurality of sub-light beams according to the received first light beam.

[0026] The second surface 204 is further configured to receive the plurality of sub-light beams from the second sub-surface 2024 and reflect the plurality of sub-light beams to the third sub-surface 2026.

[0027] The third sub-surface 2026 is configured to output each sub-light beam from the optical component.

[0028] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the optical component in the dispersion plane is shown. The dispersion plane refers to a plane that includes the dispersion direction and various light rays, spectra, etc. related to dispersion during the light dispersion process. Exemplarily, Figure 2 The dispersion plane is represented by the yoz plane. Among them, the z-axis can be used to represent the propagation direction of the light beam in the optical component. After dispersion by the grating assembly, the received light beam is decomposed into a plurality of sub-light beams in the yoz plane, and the y-axis can be used to determine the dispersion direction.

[0029] Considering that the propagation direction of the first light beam changes in the optical component, the yoz coordinate system can rotate with the change of the propagation direction of the first light beam so that the propagation direction of the first light beam is the same as the direction of the z-axis in the yoz coordinate system. Furthermore, the direction of the y-axis can be determined based on the direction of the z-axis.

[0030] As Figure 2 shown, between the first sub-surface 2022 and the second surface 204, the propagation direction of the first light beam is horizontal, and this propagation direction corresponds to Figure 2 the direction of the z-axis in the yoz coordinate system on the left side, and the Figure 2 y-axis in the yoz coordinate system on the left side can be used to determine the dispersion direction. The dispersion direction refers to the direction in which the optical signal is dispersed by the grating assembly inside the wavelength selective switch.

[0031] As Figure 2 shown, between the second surface 204 and the second sub-surface, the propagation direction of the first light beam corresponds to Figure 2 the direction of the z-axis in the yoz coordinate system on the right side, and the Figure 2The y-axis in the yoz coordinate system on the right side can be used to determine the dispersion direction.

[0032] Figure 2 The changes of the yoz coordinate system are exemplarily shown through two yoz coordinate systems. In addition, in each coordinate system in this specification, the x-axis is the same coordinate axis, the y-axis is the same coordinate axis, and the z-axis is the same coordinate axis.

[0033] It should be emphasized that in the embodiments of this application, "both ends of the optical component" do not refer to the input end and the output end of the optical component, but in geometry, the two opposite ends of the position of the optical component.

[0034] The optical component can be a composite geometric body including N surfaces, where N is an integer greater than 1. Among these N surfaces, each surface can be a plane, a curved surface, or other types of surfaces.

[0035] The first surface 202 includes a first sub-surface 2022, a second sub-surface 2024, and a third sub-surface 2026. Among them, the first sub-surface 2022 can be one of the N surfaces, the second sub-surface 2024 can be one of the N surfaces, and the third sub-surface 2026 can be one of the N surfaces.

[0036] The second surface 204 can be one of the N surfaces, and the second surface 204 is an arc surface.

[0037] The first surface 202 and the second surface 204 are opposite in space, and reference can be made to Figure 2 as shown.

[0038] A composite geometric body refers to a complex geometric structure formed by combining two or more different types of geometric bodies. These geometric bodies can be polyhedrons, curved surface bodies, or other types of geometric shapes. The characteristic of a composite geometric body is that its structure is formed by combining multiple basic geometric bodies through a certain combination method to form a whole.

[0039] Exemplarily, the above polyhedron can be a cube, a tetrahedron, a prism, etc. The above curved surface body can be a sphere, a cylinder, a cone, etc. The above certain combination method can be connection, nesting, superposition, etc.

[0040] The above wavelength selective switch is a device used in an optical communication network, mainly for dynamically selecting and routing optical signals of different wavelengths.

[0041] Exemplarily, such as Figure 2As shown, the wavelength selective switch may at least include an optical fiber array 206, a beam transformation unit 208, the optical component provided in the first embodiment of the present application, and a spatial light modulator 210.

[0042] Among them, the optical fiber array 206 is connected to the beam transformation unit 208; the beam transformation unit 208 is connected to the first sub-surface 2022 of the optical component; the spatial light modulator 210 is connected to the third sub-surface 2026 of the optical component.

[0043] The first sub-surface 2022 is used to receive the first beam input from the outside.

[0044] The first sub-surface 2022 may be a plane of the optical component.

[0045] Taking the wavelength selective switch shown as an example, the first beam input from the outside may be the beam input to the optical component through the optical fiber array 206 and the beam transformation unit 208. Figure 2 As shown, the first beam input from the outside may be the beam input to the optical component through the optical fiber array 206 and the beam transformation unit 208.

[0046] A beam refers to a region where light energy is concentrated and propagates in space, usually having a certain geometric shape and propagation direction. The first beam may be any beam input to the optical component from outside the optical component.

[0047] Exemplarily, the first beam may adopt one or more of the following: C band (C-band) optical signal, L band (L-band) optical signal, C+L band (C+L-band) optical signal, S+C band (S+C-band) optical signal, and S+C+L band (S+C+L-band) optical signal, etc.

[0048] The optical signals in each of the above-listed bands refer to optical signals using a specific wavelength range.

[0049] During a part of the transmission process of the optical signal, the first beam sequentially passes through the optical fiber array 206, the beam transformation unit 208, and the first sub-surface 2022.

[0050] The optical fiber array 206 may be a component that integrates multiple optical fibers in a specific arrangement, and is usually used in fields such as optical communication, optical sensing, optical imaging, and spectral analysis. The design and manufacture of the optical fiber array are aimed at achieving efficient optical signal transmission and processing, while maintaining precise alignment and stability between the optical fibers. Specifically in the embodiment of the present application, the optical fiber array 206 can transmit and receive optical signals.

[0051] The beam transformation unit 208 may be an optical element used to switch and route between different wavelengths to achieve dynamic allocation and scheduling of optical signals. Specifically in the embodiment of the present application, the beam transformation unit 208 can achieve dispersion and spot transformation in the port direction.

[0052] Exemplarily, the beam transformation unit 208 may be composed of a microlens array and / or a polarization diversity unit, may be a PLC (Planar Lightwave Circuit) optical waveguide, or may be a component such as a Meta-surface with the function of a beam transformation unit.

[0053] The fiber array 206 and the beam transformation unit 208 may be encapsulated together to form an integrated component. In this way, the optical path propagating inside the integrated component does not come into direct contact with the ambient air, which is beneficial to reducing the interference of the air medium on the optical signal transmission.

[0054] The second surface 204 is configured to receive the first beam from the first sub-surface 2022 and reflect the first beam to the second sub-surface 2024.

[0055] The second surface 204 may be a curved surface of an optical component, and this curved surface can reflect the received optical signal. Therefore, when the second surface 204 receives the first beam, it can reflect the first beam to the second sub-surface 2024.

[0056] Exemplarily, the value range of the focal length of the second surface 204 may be between 20 mm (millimetre) and 100 mm.

[0057] The second sub-surface 2024 may be a plane of an optical component.

[0058] Reflection is a phenomenon in which waves such as light, sound waves, and electromagnetic waves return part or all of the wave energy to the original medium when encountering an interface.

[0059] Taking an optical signal as an example, an exemplary description of reflection is as follows: The reflection of an optical signal follows the law of reflection. Specifically, the angle between the incident ray and the interface normal is equal to the angle between the reflected ray and the interface normal, and the incident ray, the reflected ray, and the interface normal are all in the same plane.

[0060] Among them, the incident ray refers to the ray that emits from the light source and reaches the interface; the reflected ray refers to the ray that is reflected back from the interface to the original medium; the interface normal refers to the straight line or vector perpendicular to the interface.

[0061] Specifically in the embodiment of the present application, the second surface 204 may be regarded as the interface, the interface normal may be determined according to the second surface 204, the first beam from the first sub-surface 2022 may be regarded as the incident ray, and the first beam reflected by the second surface 204 to the second sub-surface 2024 may be regarded as the reflected ray.

[0062] The second sub-surface 2024 is provided with a grating component, which is used to disperse a first light beam into multiple sub-beams and emit them to the second surface 204.

[0063] A grating component is an optical element used to control and manipulate the propagation direction and wavelength of light. A grating component is usually composed of a grating, which is an optical surface with a periodic structure and can disperse incident light into spectra of different wavelengths. The basic principle of a grating is to utilize the diffraction effect of light. When light waves pass through a grating, the periodic structure of the grating causes the light waves to diffract, and light waves of different wavelengths diffract at different angles, thus achieving the separation and selection of wavelengths.

[0064] The diffraction effect of light refers to the phenomenon that when light waves encounter an obstacle or pass through a slit, aperture or other openings with limited dimensions, they deviate from the straight-line propagation path, forming the expansion and bending of light waves.

[0065] Dispersion refers to the phenomenon that when light propagates in a medium, light waves of different wavelengths propagate at different speeds, resulting in the phase velocity and group velocity of light waves varying with wavelength.

[0066] Dispersive emission refers to the phenomenon that when light emitted from a light source passes through a dispersive medium, light waves of different wavelengths are emitted at different angles or directions.

[0067] Specifically in the embodiment of the present application, the grating component provided on the second sub-surface 2024 can be regarded as a dispersive medium. The grating component can disperse a first light beam into multiple sub-beams and emit them to the second surface 204. Among these multiple sub-beams, the wavelength of each sub-beam is different. As Figure 2 shown, among these multiple sub-beams, the emission angle of each sub-beam is different.

[0068] The second surface 204 is further configured to receive multiple sub-beams from the second sub-surface 2024 and reflect the multiple sub-beams to the third sub-surface 2026.

[0069] The third sub-surface 2026 can be a plane of the optical component.

[0070] The third sub-surface 2026 is used to output each sub-beam from the optical component.

[0071] Taking the wavelength selection switch as shown in Figure 2 as an example, the third sub-surface 2026 can be connected to the spatial light modulator 210 in the wavelength selection switch and is used to transmit each sub-beam to the spatial light modulator 210, so as to perform modulation processing on each sub-beam through the spatial light modulator 210.

[0072] A spatial light modulator 210 is an optical device that can perform spatial modulation on the amplitude, phase or polarization state of light waves.

[0073] Exemplarily, the spatial light modulator 210 may include one or more of the following: a polarization-independent PI-LCOS (Polymer-Imprinted Liquid Crystal on Silicon), an LCOS, a MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems), etc., which are modules with modulation functions.

[0074] The modulation of an optical signal refers to the process of loading information onto the optical wave by changing certain characteristics of the optical wave, such as amplitude, frequency, phase, or polarization state, etc.

[0075] In summary, in an optical component provided in an embodiment of the present application, an optical signal transmitted in the form of a light beam is input from outside the optical component. The optical signal is transmitted to a second surface through a first sub-surface in a first surface, reflected to a second sub-surface through the second surface, and a grating component provided on the second sub-surface disperses and emits multiple sub-beams of light to the second surface according to the optical signal, and then is reflected to a third sub-surface through the second surface and output from the optical component. In this way, the entire transmission process of the optical signal basically occurs inside the optical component, and there is no air medium. Therefore, the influence of disturbances and dust particles and other impurities in the air on the transmission of the optical signal can be avoided, which is beneficial to optimizing the transmission performance of the optical signal in the wavelength selection switch. Moreover, compared with multiple discrete components in the prior art, the entire optical component is integrally designed, which improves the component integration degree, reduces the space size, and simplifies the optical path design.

[0076] Embodiment 2 Based on the above Embodiment 1 and the same technical concept, embodiments of the present application provide various optical components. Each optical component includes each structure in the optical component shown in Embodiment 1, and reference can be made to the corresponding description part. On this basis, improvements have been made. The following can exemplarily illustrate the improvements in combination with some specific implementation manners.

[0077] In a specific implementation manner, the first sub-surface is adjacent to the second sub-surface, and the included angle between the first sub-surface and the second sub-surface is less than a first angle threshold; the first sub-surface is adjacent to the third sub-surface.

[0078] This implementation manner can be exemplarily illustrated in combination with Figure 2 As shown in Figure 2 the first sub-surface 2022 is adjacent to the second sub-surface 2024, and the included angle α between the first sub-surface 2022 and the second sub-surface 2024 is less than the first angle threshold; the first sub-surface 2022 is adjacent to the third sub-surface 2026.

[0079] The first angle threshold can be an angle threshold configured by the user. For example, if the first angle threshold is 40 degrees, then the included angle α between the first sub-surface 2022 and the second sub-surface 2024 is less than 40 degrees.

[0080] In addition, the included angle α between the first sub-surface 2022 and the second sub-surface 2024 can also satisfy simultaneously: α is less than the first angle threshold and α is greater than another user-configured third angle threshold. Exemplarily, if the first angle threshold is 40 degrees and the third angle threshold is 5 degrees, then the included angle α between the first sub-surface 2022 and the second sub-surface 2024 is less than 40 degrees and α is greater than 5 degrees.

[0081] In this implementation, the second sub-surface 2024, the first sub-surface 2022, and the third sub-surface 2026 are connected in sequence, such that the first sub-surface 2022 is adjacent to the second sub-surface 2024, and the first sub-surface 2022 is adjacent to the third sub-surface 2026.

[0082] In this way, as Figure 2 shown, the first light beam is transmitted through the first sub-surface 2022 to the second surface 204, and the first light beam is reflected by the second surface 204 to the second sub-surface 2024. Further, the grating component provided on the second sub-surface 1024 can disperse the first light beam into multiple sub-light beams to the second surface 204 according to the first light beam, and then the second surface 204 reflects the sub-light beams to the third sub-surface 2026. Considering that the above entire light transmission process occurs inside the optical component as Figure 2 shown, and there is no air medium inside the optical component, therefore, using this optical component can avoid the interference of the air medium on light transmission and improve the transmission performance of the optical signal.

[0083] In a specific implementation, the third sub-surface is adjacent to the second sub-surface, and the included angle between the third sub-surface and the second sub-surface is greater than the second angle threshold; the first sub-surface is adjacent to the third sub-surface.

[0084] This implementation can be exemplarily described in combination with Figure 3 : The third sub-surface 3026 is adjacent to the second sub-surface 3024, and the included angle β between the third sub-surface 3026 and the second sub-surface 3024 is greater than the second angle threshold; the first sub-surface 3022 is adjacent to the third sub-surface 3026.

[0085] The second angle threshold can be an angle threshold configured by the user. For example, if the second angle threshold is 60 degrees, then the included angle β between the third sub-surface 3026 and the second sub-surface 3024 is less than 60 degrees.

[0086] In addition, the included angle β between the third sub-surface 3026 and the second sub-surface 3024 may further satisfy: β is less than the second angle threshold and β is greater than another custom-configured fourth angle threshold. Exemplarily, if the second angle threshold is 60 degrees and the third angle threshold is 0 degrees, then the included angle β between the third sub-surface 3026 and the second sub-surface 3024 is less than 60 degrees and β is greater than 0 degrees.

[0087] In this implementation, the second sub-surface 3024, the third sub-surface 3026, and the first sub-surface 3022 are connected in sequence, such that the second sub-surface 3024 is adjacent to the third sub-surface 3026, and the third sub-surface 3026 is adjacent to the first sub-surface 3022.

[0088] In this way, as Figure 3 shown, the first light beam is transmitted through the first sub-surface 3022 to the second surface 304, and the second surface 304 reflects the first light beam to the second sub-surface 3024. Furthermore, the grating component disposed on the second sub-surface 3024 can disperse the first light beam into multiple sub-light beams to the second surface 304 according to the first light beam, and then the second surface 304 reflects the sub-light beams to the third sub-surface 3026. Considering that the entire above light transmission process occurs inside the optical component as Figure 3 shown, and there is no air medium inside the optical component, therefore, using this optical component can avoid the interference of the air medium on light transmission and improve the transmission performance of the optical signal.

[0089] In a specific implementation, the grating component includes grating units arranged periodically along a first direction, and the grating units are arc-shaped along a second direction; the first direction is orthogonal to the second direction.

[0090] This implementation can be described by way of example in combination with Figure 4A and 4B for illustration. Figure 4A FIG. Figure 4B FIG.

[0091] As Figure 4A shown, the grating component 402 includes grating units 404 arranged periodically along a first direction, and the grating units 404 are straight along a second direction; the first direction is orthogonal to the second direction. Exemplarily, the grating component may be in the xoy plane, where the x-axis represents the second direction and the y-axis represents the first direction.

[0092] It should be noted that the y-axis in the xoy plane is the same coordinate axis as the y-axis in the Figure 2 preceding yoz plane.

[0093] As Figure 4BAs shown, the grating assembly 406 includes grating units 408 arranged periodically in a first direction, and the grating units 408 are arc-shaped in a second direction; the first direction is orthogonal to the second direction. Exemplarily, the grating assembly may be in the xoy plane, where the x-axis represents the second direction and the y-axis represents the first direction.

[0094] It should be noted that the y-axis in the xoy plane is the same coordinate axis as the y-axis in the Figure 2 preceding yoz plane.

[0095] As Figure 4A shown, Figure 4A the grating units 404 in [reference] are straight in the x direction and have no effect on the x direction of the incident light beam; as Figure 4B shown, Figure 4B the grating units 408 in [reference] are curved in the x direction and have an effect on the x direction of the incident light beam, and can cause the light beam incident on the surface of the grating assembly 406 to be bent in the x direction. The specific degree of bending is determined by the equivalent focal length in the x direction. The above-mentioned x direction is the second direction represented by the x-axis.

[0096] The arc curvature of the grating unit 408 can be used to represent the curvature of the geometric shape of the surface of the grating unit 408, that is, this arc curvature can be used to represent the degree of bending of the arc presented by the grating unit 408 in the second direction.

[0097] Exemplarily, the arc curvature of the grating unit can be represented by an x 2 phase.

[0098] In this implementation, the arc curvature of the grating assembly can be determined according to the incident angle of the optical signal and the focal length achieved by the grating unit.

[0099] For example, in the optical assembly as Figure 2 shown, for the grating assembly disposed on the second sub-surface 2024, the value range of the incident angle of the optical signal can be between 50 degrees and 80 degrees, and the value range of the focal length achieved by the grating assembly can be between 40 mm and 200 mm.

[0100] Taking the incident angle of the first light beam incident on the grating assembly as x1 and the focal length achieved by the grating assembly as y1 as an example, x1 is an angle between 50 degrees and 80 degrees, and y1 is a length between 40 mm and 200 mm. Then, according to x1 and y1, the arc curvature of the grating assembly in the optical assembly as Figure 2 shown can be determined.

[0101] For another example, in the optical assembly as Figure 3In the optical component shown, for the grating component disposed on the second sub-surface 3024, the range of the incident angle of the optical signal can be between 30 degrees and 50 degrees, and the range of the focal length achieved by the grating component can be between 40 mm and 200 mm.

[0102] Taking the incident angle of the first light beam incident on the grating component as x2 and the focal length achieved by the grating component as y2 as an example, where x2 is an angle between 30 degrees and 50 degrees and y2 is a length between 40 mm and 200 mm, then according to x2 and y2, the arc curvature of the grating component in the optical component shown in Figure 3 can be determined.

[0103] The first direction belongs to the plane where the second sub-surface is located, and the second direction belongs to the plane where the second sub-surface is located. The first direction is perpendicular to the second direction. The first direction can be used to determine the dispersion direction, and the second direction can be used to determine the port switching direction.

[0104] The dispersion direction refers to the direction in which the optical signal is dispersed by the grating component inside the wavelength selection switch, and the port switching direction refers to the layout direction of the input port and output port of the wavelength selection switch.

[0105] By disposing the grating component on the second sub-surface, the x 2 terms of phase including the port switching direction on the second sub-surface can be made equivalent to applying a dioptric power in the port switching direction to achieve the conversion of the angle and position of the light beam in the port switching direction.

[0106] In the process of the grating component dispersing and emitting multiple sub-beams to the second surface according to the first light beam: after the first light beam is incident on the grating component, multiple sub-beams of the first light beam diffract according to the diffraction equation, deflect at different angles, so that the grating component emits multiple sub-beams to the second surface, each sub-beam corresponding to a wavelength and having a different emission angle. In this way, the second surface can reflect the multiple sub-beams to different positions on the third sub-surface respectively.

[0107] In a specific implementation, the grating component is used to disperse and emit multiple sub-beams according to the first light beam incident along the third direction. The projection of the third straight line representing the third direction on the grating component represents the first direction, and each sub-beam is a light component generated after the first light beam is dispersed by the grating component.

[0108] The third direction refers to the propagation direction of the first light beam in the process of the grating component dispersing and emitting multiple sub-beams according to the first light beam.

[0109] The projection of the third straight line representing the third direction on the grating component can be regarded as the projection of the third straight line on the plane where the grating component is located.

[0110] The projection of the third straight line representing the third direction on the grating component represents the first direction. In this way, when the grating component receives the first light beam incident along the third direction, assuming that the angle between the third straight line representing the third direction and the plane where the grating component is located is the first angle, and the angle between the third direction and the first direction is the second angle, then the first angle and the second angle are complementary. For example, if the angle between the third straight line and the plane where the grating component is located is 60 degrees, then the angle between the third direction and the first direction is 120 degrees. Considering that the grating component includes grating units arranged periodically along the first direction, which is the structural basis for the grating component to achieve the dispersion effect, when the first light beam is incident on the grating component, light components of different wavelengths will be emitted in different directions according to the dispersion principle of the grating, thereby achieving the dispersion effect based on the first direction.

[0111] Each sub-beam is a light component generated after the first light beam is dispersed by the grating component. Each sub-beam can correspond to a specific wavelength, or each sub-beam can correspond to a specific wavelength range. The wavelength or wavelength range corresponding to each sub-beam can be determined by the spectral characteristics of the first light beam and the resolution of the grating component.

[0112] This implementation can be combined with Figure 4B for exemplary illustration. The plane where the grating component is located can refer to the xoy plane mentioned above Figure 4B . The first direction can refer to the y-axis direction. Specifically, the first direction may be the same as the y-axis direction or may be opposite to the y-axis direction. The grating component is used to disperse and emit multiple sub-beams according to the first light beam incident along the third direction. The projection of the third straight line representing the third direction on the grating component can refer to the y-axis direction, and each sub-beam is a light component generated after the first light beam is dispersed by the grating component.

[0113] In a specific implementation, the third direction and the propagation directions of multiple sub-beams are both located in the first plane. The first plane is perpendicular to the second plane. The second plane is determined by the first direction and the second direction. The first plane and the second plane intersect at the first straight line, and the first straight line represents the first direction. The second surface intersects the first plane at a first cross-sectional curve with curvature, and the curvature is used to change the reflection direction of the first light beam.

[0114] This implementation can be combined with Figure 2 and Figure 4B for exemplary illustration. The first plane, i.e., the dispersion plane, can refer to the yoz plane mentioned above Figure 2 . The second plane, i.e., the plane where the grating component is located, can refer to the above-mentioned Figure 4BThe xoy plane. The first plane is perpendicular to the second plane, and the first plane intersects the second plane at a first straight line, and the first straight line represents a first direction. For example, the yoz plane is perpendicular to the xoy plane, and the yoz plane intersects the xoy plane at the y-axis, and the y-axis represents the first direction. The curvature of the second surface in the yoz plane is non-zero.

[0115] In the optical component provided by the embodiment of the present application, the grating component can be used to disperse a received first light beam into a plurality of sub-light beams, and then the propagation direction of each sub-light beam can be regarded as a dispersion direction. Furthermore, based on the plurality of dispersion directions, a plane can be determined, and this plane is the first plane.

[0116] For example, the second surface transmits the first light beam to the grating component, and the grating component disperses and emits the received first light beam to obtain 3 sub-light beams. The emission angles of each sub-light beam are different. For the grating component, the dispersion direction can include the propagation directions of these 3 sub-light beams, and can also include the propagation directions of some sub-light beams that may not be observable.

[0117] Based on the propagation directions of these 3 sub-light beams, a plane can be determined, and this plane is the first plane. The propagation direction of the first light beam is the aforementioned third direction, and the third direction and the propagation directions of the plurality of sub-light beams are all located in the first plane.

[0118] In the first plane, the grating units in the grating component are arranged periodically. And the grating component can play a role in dispersion in the first plane.

[0119] The second plane can be the plane where the second sub-surface is located.

[0120] In three-dimensional space, for any plane, there are two planes perpendicular to this plane. Specifically in this implementation manner, the first plane is perpendicular to the second plane, and the second plane is determined by the first direction and the second direction.

[0121] For example, the first plane is plane 1. In three-dimensional space, plane 2 is perpendicular to plane 1, and plane 3 is perpendicular to plane 1. Considering that the first direction and the second direction are orthogonal, that is, the first direction and the second direction are not parallel, then according to the first direction and the second direction, a plane that includes both the first direction and the second direction can be determined, that is, plane 2, and plane 2 can be determined as the second plane, and it can be determined that plane 3 is not the second plane.

[0122] The first plane intersects the second plane at a first straight line, and the first straight line represents the first direction.

[0123] The second surface can be an arc surface, and the curvature of the second surface can be used to represent the degree of bending of the second surface. The curvature of the second surface is a physical quantity that describes the overall bending degree of the second surface itself in three-dimensional space. It is defined based on the shape and position of the second surface in space, considering the bending conditions of the second surface in various directions, and is a concept that relatively comprehensively reflects the bending characteristics of the second surface.

[0124] It should be emphasized that although the curvature in this implementation manner is related to the curvature of the second surface, this curvature does not refer to the physical quantity that describes the overall bending degree of the second surface itself in three-dimensional space, but the physical quantity that describes the bending degree of the first cross-sectional curve.

[0125] A cross-sectional curve refers to the curve formed by the intersection line of a plane and a solid figure (including curved surfaces, solids, etc.) when a plane cuts the solid figure. In special cases, it may also be a straight line, a broken line, or a point, etc. That is, although the cross-sectional curve has the word "curve" in its name, it can also be a straight line in special cases because in mathematics and geometry, a straight line is a special form of a curve.

[0126] In this implementation manner, the second surface intersects with the first plane at a first cross-sectional curve with curvature. The first cross-sectional curve has curvature, and the curvature is used to change the reflection direction of the first light beam.

[0127] During the process that the second surface receives the first light beam from the first sub-surface and reflects the first light beam to the second sub-surface, for multiple first light beams with parallel propagation directions, the positions where these multiple first light beams reach the second surface are different. Considering that the propagation direction of the first light beam belongs to the first plane, and the second surface intersects with the first plane at a first cross-sectional curve with curvature, that is, the curvature of the second surface plays a role in the reflection process, and the normal directions of the points where the second surface intersects with the first plane are different, so the reflection directions of the aforementioned multiple first light beams after reaching the second surface are also different.

[0128] In this implementation manner, by making the first plane and the second plane perpendicular, the first plane intersects with the second plane at a first straight line, and the first straight line represents the first direction, it can be ensured that when any first light beam whose propagation direction belongs to the first plane is reflected by the second surface to the grating component, the dispersion function of the grating component including grating units periodically arranged along the first direction can be utilized to separate lights with different wavelengths and achieve purposes such as wavelength selection and multiplexing.

[0129] In a specific implementation manner, the grating component is further configured to diffract and emit a third light beam according to a second light beam incident along a fourth direction. The projection of a fourth straight line representing the fourth direction on the grating component represents the second direction, and the third light beam is focused on a preset area.

[0130] The fourth direction refers to the propagation direction of the second light beam during the process in which the grating component diffracts the second light beam to emit a third light beam.

[0131] The projection of the fourth straight line representing the fourth direction on the grating component can be regarded as the projection of the fourth straight line on the plane where the grating component is located.

[0132] The projection of the fourth straight line representing the fourth direction on the grating component represents the second direction. In this way, when the grating component receives the second light beam incident along the fourth direction, assuming that the included angle between the fourth straight line representing the fourth direction and the plane where the grating component is located is the third angle, and the included angle between the fourth direction and the second direction is the fourth angle, then the third angle and the fourth angle are complementary. For example, if the included angle between the fourth straight line and the plane where the grating component is located is 60 degrees, then the included angle between the fourth direction and the second direction is 120 degrees. Also, considering that the grating unit is arc-shaped along the second direction, which is the structural basis for the grating component to achieve the lens effect, therefore, when the second light beam is incident on the grating component, the third light beam diffracted and emitted by the grating component can be focused on a preset area, realizing the function of the lens based on the second direction.

[0133] This implementation manner can be combined with Figure 4B for exemplary illustration. The plane where the grating component is located can refer to the xoy plane in the foregoing Figure 4B , and the second direction can refer to the x-axis direction. Specifically, the second direction may be the same as the x-axis direction or may be opposite to the x-axis direction. The grating component is used to diffract and emit a third light beam according to the second light beam incident along the fourth direction. The projection of the fourth straight line representing the fourth direction on the grating component can refer to the x-axis direction, and the third light beam is focused on a preset area.

[0134] In a specific implementation manner, both the fourth direction and the propagation direction of the third light beam are located in a third plane. The third plane is perpendicular to the second plane. The second plane is determined by the first direction and the second direction. The third plane intersects the second plane at a second straight line, and the second straight line represents the second direction; the second surface intersects the third plane at a second cross-sectional curve with zero curvature.

[0135] This implementation manner can be combined with Figure 2 and Figure 4B for exemplary illustration. The first plane, i.e., the dispersion plane, can refer to the yoz plane in the foregoing Figure 2 . The second plane, i.e., the plane where the grating component is located, can refer to the foregoing Figure 4BThe xoy plane. The third plane is perpendicular to the second plane, and the third plane is another plane different from the first plane. For example, the yoz plane (i.e. the first plane), the xoy plane (i.e. the second plane) and the xoz plane are perpendicular to each other. The xoz plane is perpendicular to the xoy plane (i.e. the second plane), and the xoz plane is another plane different from the yoz plane (i.e. the first plane). Therefore, the third plane can refer to the xoz plane. The x-axis in the xoz plane is the same coordinate axis as the x-axis in the aforementioned coordinate systems, and the z-axis in the xoz plane is the same coordinate axis as the z-axis in the aforementioned coordinate systems. It should be noted that although Figure 2 and Figure 4B None of them directly draws the xoz plane, based on Figure 2 The yoz plane shown is similar to Figure 4B The xoy plane shown can determine the xoz plane. The third plane intersects the second plane at a second straight line, and the second straight line represents the second direction. For example, the xoz plane intersects the xoy plane at an x-axis, and the x-axis represents the second direction. The curvature of the second surface in the xoz plane is zero.

[0136] Focusing in the field of optics refers to the process or phenomenon of concentrating light or other waves (such as electromagnetic waves) on a specific point or area.

[0137] In the first plane, the second plane and the third plane, each of them is perpendicular to each other, and the first plane intersects with the second plane at a first straight line, the first straight line represents the first direction, the third plane intersects with the second plane at a second straight line, the second straight line represents the second direction, and the first direction is orthogonal to the second direction.

[0138] Among two planes perpendicular to the first plane in three-dimensional space, the second plane and the third plane can be distinguished as follows: the second plane includes the first direction and the second plane includes the second direction; the third plane includes the second direction and the third plane does not include the first direction.

[0139] The grating assembly can diffract a third light beam according to the second light beam incident along the fourth direction. When there are multiple second light beams, each second light beam has a corresponding third light beam, and then the multiple third light beams can be focused on a preset area. The fourth direction and the propagation direction of the third light beam are both located in the third plane.

[0140] That is, the grating component can play the role of a lens in the third plane, so that the multiple light beams incident on the grating component are focused to a designated area after being diffracted and emitted. The grating component can have a focal length.

[0141] It should be emphasized that although the curvature in this implementation is related to the curvature of the second surface, this curvature does not refer to the physical quantity that describes the overall bending degree of the second surface itself in three-dimensional space, but rather the physical quantity that describes the bending degree of the second cross-sectional curve.

[0142] A cross-sectional curve refers to the curve formed by the intersection line of a plane and a solid figure (including curved surfaces, solids, etc.) when the solid figure is intercepted by a plane. In special cases, it may also be a straight line, a broken line, or a point, etc. That is, although the cross-sectional curve has the word "curve" in its name, it can also be a straight line in special cases because in mathematics and geometry, a straight line is a special form of a curve.

[0143] In this implementation, the second surface intersects with the third plane at a second cross-sectional curve with a curvature of zero, that is, the curvature of the second surface does not play a role in the third plane. The reflection effect of the second surface on any optical signal whose propagation direction belongs to the third plane is the same as that of a plane mirror.

[0144] In this implementation, by making the third plane perpendicular to the second plane, the third plane intersects with the second plane at a second straight line, and the second straight line represents the second direction. When any second light beam whose propagation direction belongs to the third plane is reflected by the second surface to the grating component, the grating component including grating units that are arc-shaped along the second direction can be used to achieve a focusing effect.

[0145] In another specific implementation, the grating component is used to disperse and emit a plurality of sub-beams according to the first light beam incident along the third direction. The projection of the third straight line representing the third direction on the grating component represents the first direction, and each sub-beam is a light component generated after the first light beam is dispersed by the grating component; and, the grating component is also used to diffract and emit a third light beam according to the second light beam incident along the fourth direction. The projection of the fourth straight line representing the fourth direction on the grating component represents the second direction, and the third light beam is focused on a preset area.

[0146] Due to the similar concept, this implementation can be regarded as a technical solution obtained by combining the foregoing multiple implementations, and reference can be made to the corresponding description part in the previous text.

[0147] In yet another specific implementation, the grating component is configured to disperse an incident first light beam along a third direction into a plurality of sub-beams. The projection of a third straight line representing the third direction on the grating component represents a first direction, and each sub-beam is a light component generated after the first light beam is dispersed by the grating component. Both the third direction and the propagation directions of the plurality of sub-beams are located in a first plane, the first plane is perpendicular to a second plane, the second plane is determined by the first direction and a second direction, the first plane intersects the second plane at a first straight line, the first straight line represents the first direction, and a second surface intersects the first plane at a first cross-sectional curve with curvature, and the curvature is used to change the reflection direction of the first light beam. Further, the grating component is further configured to diffract an incident second light beam along a fourth direction into a third light beam. The projection of a fourth straight line representing the fourth direction on the grating component represents the second direction, and the third light beam is focused on a preset area. Both the fourth direction and the propagation direction of the third light beam are located in a third plane, the third plane is perpendicular to the second plane, the second plane is determined by the first direction and the second direction, the third plane intersects the second plane at a second straight line, the second straight line represents the second direction, and the second surface intersects the third plane at a second cross-sectional curve with zero curvature.

[0148] Due to the similar concept, this implementation can be regarded as a technical solution obtained by combining the foregoing multiple implementations, and reference can be made to the corresponding description part in the foregoing text.

[0149] In this way, by making the first plane perpendicular to the second plane and the first plane intersect the second plane at a first straight line representing the first direction, when a first light beam whose propagation direction belongs to the first plane is reflected by the second surface to the grating component, the dispersion function of the grating component including grating units periodically arranged along the first direction can be utilized to separate lights of different wavelengths and achieve purposes such as wavelength selection and multiplexing. By making the third plane perpendicular to the second plane and the third plane intersect the second plane at a second straight line representing the second direction, when a second light beam whose propagation direction belongs to the third plane is reflected by the second surface to the grating component, the focusing effect can be achieved by using the grating component including grating units in an arc shape along the second direction. Furthermore, in the optical component provided by the above implementation, the dispersion function in the first plane and the focusing effect in the third plane can be simultaneously achieved by using one device, i.e., the grating component, without adding additional devices, achieving a high integration effect.

[0150] In a specific implementation, the grating component is a blazed grating, and the diffraction orders of the grating component include positive and negative first diffraction orders.

[0151] A blazed grating is a specially designed grating component that can concentrate light energy into a specific diffraction order, thereby improving the efficiency of the grating. Compared with a common grating, by changing the shape of the grating grooves, a blazed grating diffracts more light energy into the desired diffraction order instead of dispersing it into other diffraction orders.

[0152] The diffraction orders of the grating component can include the diffraction order of the +1 level or the diffraction order of the -1 level.

[0153] The diffraction equation of the grating component can refer to the following formula (1): (1) where n is the effective refractive index of the grating component, is the grating period, is the incident angle, θ d is the diffraction angle, m is the diffraction order, and λ is the diffraction wavelength.

[0154] Specifically in the embodiment of the present application, during the process in which the grating component disperses a first beam into multiple sub-beams according to the received first beam, the first beam can include multiple sub-beams, and the incident angles of the multiple sub-beams are the same, the diffraction angles θ of the multiple sub-beams d are different from each other, and the θ of each sub-beam d is determined by the wavelength of the sub-beam.

[0155] In a specific implementation manner, the second surface is an arc surface and the second surface is a mirror surface, or the second surface is an arc surface and a cylindrical mirror is provided on the second surface, or the second surface is an arc surface and a metasurface component is provided on the second surface.

[0156] The second surface can be an arc surface and the second surface is a mirror surface. In this way, the second surface can reflect the received optical signal, so it can achieve reflecting the first beam to the second sub-surface when receiving the first beam, and reflecting the sub-beam to the third sub-surface when receiving the sub-beam.

[0157] Or, the second surface is an arc surface and a cylindrical mirror can be provided on the second surface.

[0158] Or, the second surface is an arc surface and a metasurface component can be provided on the second surface.

[0159] Or, the second surface is an arc surface and other components with optical power are provided on the second surface. In this way, the second surface can reflect the received optical signal, so it can achieve reflecting the first beam to the second sub-surface when receiving the first beam, and reflecting the sub-beam to the third sub-surface when receiving the sub-beam.

[0160] A cylindrical mirror is a mirror with a cylindrical shape, and its reflecting surface is a part of a cylindrical surface. Cylindrical mirrors are widely used in optical systems to change the shape of light beams, focus light beams, or achieve specific optical functions.

[0161] A metasurface is a two-dimensional artificial structured material that can precisely control the characteristics of electromagnetic waves (including light waves), such as phase, amplitude, polarization state, and wavefront, by designing microstructures at the sub-wavelength scale. A metasurface component is a component constructed using this two-dimensional artificial structured material.

[0162] Optical power is a physical quantity that describes the focusing or diverging ability of an optical system on light rays. The greater the optical power, the stronger the focusing or diverging ability of the optical system on light rays.

[0163] In a specific implementation, the optical component includes a body. A first light beam and multiple sub-light beams are transmitted through the body in the optical component, and the material of the body is glass.

[0164] The body can be understood as the core part of the optical component that undertakes the main optical and structural functions. The first light beam and multiple sub-light beams are transmitted through the body of the optical component in the optical component.

[0165] Glass can be an amorphous inorganic non-metallic material formed by melting quartz sand, soda ash, feldspar, limestone, etc. at high temperature and then cooling and solidifying. The main components of glass include silicon dioxide, sodium oxide, calcium oxide, and other oxides, and these components interact to form the unique properties of glass.

[0166] In addition, the material of the body can also include materials mainly composed of silicon elements, such as amorphous silicon, silicon nitride, silicon dioxide, etc. Among them, amorphous silicon is a semiconductor material, silicon nitride is a semiconductor material, and silicon dioxide is an insulator. Or, the material of the body can also be materials mainly composed of germanium elements, such as germanium dioxide, etc.

[0167] The material of the body can also include any other semiconductor material not listed that can be used as optical glass.

[0168] Setting the material of the body to glass or other semiconductor materials that can be used as optical glass is conducive to the free transmission of optical signals inside the optical component.

[0169] In some other implementations, the optical component may not include a body.

[0170] Specifically, the optical component can be a closed composite geometric body and the inside of the composite geometric body is vacuum, which can avoid the interference of air impurities on the transmission of optical signals.

[0171] Alternatively, the optical component is a closed composite geometric body and there is a specified filling gas inside the composite geometric body. For example, the specified filling gas is nitrogen, argon or other gases that can avoid interference with the transmission of optical signals.

[0172] Next, in order to facilitate the understanding of the optical signal transmission process in the embodiments of the present application, the following combines Figure 5 and Figure 6 to exemplarily illustrate the principle of optical signal propagation in the optical component provided in the embodiments of the present application.

[0173] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the principle of optical signal propagation according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0174] Figure 5 Exemplarily shows the principle of optical signal propagation in the port switching direction.

[0175] As Figure 5 shown, exemplarily, the principle of optical signal propagation in the port switching direction in the optical component can be represented by the xoz plane. The z-axis is used to represent the propagation direction of the light beam in the optical component, and the x-axis is used to represent the direction of port arrangement, that is, the port switching direction. Among them, Figure 5 the x-axis in Figure 4B is the same coordinate axis as the x-axis in the xoy plane in Figure 5 the z-axis in Figure 2 is the same coordinate axis as the z-axis in the yoz plane in the foregoing

[0176] As Figure 5 shown, the fiber optic array includes a plurality of optical fibers, and each optical fiber represents a port. Among them, port 502 transmits the second light beam to the second surface 506 through the first sub-surface 504, and the second surface 506 reflects the second light beam to the second sub-surface 508. It should be noted that the reason why Figure 5 the second surface 506 between the first sub-surface 504 and the second sub-surface 508 in

[0177] is represented by a dotted line is to emphasize that the curvature of the second surface 506 does not play a role in the process of reflecting the second light beam from the first sub-surface 504 to the second sub-surface 508. Specifically, reference can be made to the corresponding description part where the second surface intersects the third plane at the second cross-sectional curve with a curvature of zero in the foregoing implementation manner.

[0178] In the process that the grating component diffracts the received second light beam to emit a third light beam to the second surface 506, the grating component can act as a lens and has a focal length.

[0179] It should be noted that Figure 5 the second surface 506 between the second sub-surface 508 and the third sub-surface 510 is represented by a dashed line to emphasize that in the process that the second surface 506 reflects the third light beam to the third sub-surface 510, the curvature of the second surface 506 does not play a role. Specifically, reference can be made to the corresponding description part where the second surface intersects the third plane at a second cross-sectional curve with a curvature of zero in the foregoing implementation manner.

[0180] After the third light beam is transmitted to the spatial light modulator 512, the spatial light modulator 512 can perform modulation processing on the third light beam.

[0181] For the third light beam, after being modulated by the spatial light modulator 512, the exit angle of the third light beam relative to the third sub-surface 510 will undergo an angular deflection.

[0182] It should be noted that the third sub-surface 510 itself does not have a reflection function, but serves as an interface through which the third light beam passes during the process of entering and exiting the spatial light modulator 512.

[0183] After the second surface 506 reflects the received third light beam, the third light beam reaches the spatial light modulator 512 connected to the third sub-surface 510 through the third sub-surface 510. The spatial light modulator 512 performs modulation processing on the received third light beam, and the spatial light modulator 512 transmits the modulated third light beam to the second surface 506 through the third sub-surface 510.

[0184] In the propagation path of the above-mentioned third light beam, in the optical component, when the third light beam is output from the optical component through the third sub-surface 510, the third light beam has an incident angle relative to the third sub-surface 510, which is determined by the normal direction of the third light beam and the third sub-surface 510. When the third light beam is input into the optical component through the third sub-surface 510, the third light beam has an exit angle relative to the third sub-surface 510. When the spatial light modulator 512 has performed modulation processing on the third light beam, the exit angle is different from the incident angle, and the exit angle is affected by the modulation processing.

[0185] Referring to Figure 5 as shown, for example, for the third light beam 1, the incident angle of the third light beam 1 relative to the third sub-surface 510 is the first angle, and the third light beam 1 transmitted from the second surface 506 to the third sub-surface 510 can be referred to as the incident light ray 514.

[0186] (a1) When the spatial light modulator 512 does not perform modulation processing on the third light beam 1 and directly transmits the unmodulated third light beam 1 to the second surface 506 through the third sub-surface 510, the exit angle of the third light beam 1 relative to the third sub-surface 510 is the second angle, and the first angle and the second angle are symmetric about the normal of the third sub-surface 510.

[0187] (a2) When the spatial light modulator performs modulation processing on the third light beam 1, causing an angular shift in the exit angle of the third light beam 1 relative to the third sub-surface 510, that is, when the spatial light modulator 512 transmits the modulated third light beam 1 to the second surface 506 through the third sub-surface 510, the exit angle of the third light beam 1 relative to the third sub-surface 510 is the third angle, and the first angle and the third angle are not symmetric about the normal of the third sub-surface 510. The modulated third light beam 1 can refer to the exit light rays 516, exit light rays 518, exit light rays 520, and exit light rays 522.

[0188] In the above cases (a1) or (a2), the third sub-surface 510 only serves as the interface through which the third light beam 1 passes during the process of entering and exiting the spatial light modulator 512 and does not play a reflective role. The exit angle of the third light beam 1 relative to the third sub-surface 510 is determined by the spatial light modulator 512.

[0189] The above optical fiber array may include ports. The above incident light ray 514 corresponds to the port 502, and the exit light rays 516, exit light rays 518, exit light rays 520, and exit light rays 522 respectively correspond to different ports, and each port corresponding to an exit light ray is a port other than the port 502 in the optical fiber array.

[0190] Taking the LCOS as an example of the spatial light modulator for exemplary illustration, the modulation processing of the spatial light modulator can adopt the diffraction equation, specifically referring to formula (2) of the following simplified diffraction equation (2) where d is the phase period of the LCOS, is the diffraction angle, and λ is the diffraction wavelength.

[0191] Regarding the port switching direction, the complete light transmission process in the optical component can be understood as: The optical fiber array includes multiple ports. Among them, the second light beam output from the port 502 enters the optical component through the first sub-surface 504 ( Figure 5(The beam transformation unit is omitted). The second surface 506 receives the second beam from the first sub-surface 504, reflects the second beam to the second sub-surface 508, and the curvature of the second surface 506 does not play a role during this reflection process. The grating assembly provided on the second sub-surface 508 diffracts the received second beam to emit a third beam. The grating assembly acts as a lens during this diffraction process, and the grating assembly has a focal length. The second surface 506 reflects the received third beam to the third sub-surface 510, and the curvature of the second surface 506 does not play a role during this reflection process. The third sub-surface 510 receives the third beam from the second surface 506 and transmits the third beam to the spatial light modulator 512 connected to the third sub-surface 510. The third beam from the second surface 506 has an incident angle relative to the third sub-surface 510, and this incident angle is determined by the third beam and the normal direction of the third sub-surface 510. The third sub-surface 510 receives the modulated third beam from the spatial light modulator 512 and transmits the modulated third beam to the second surface 506. The modulated third beam from the spatial light modulator 512 has an exit angle relative to the third sub-surface 510, and this exit angle is determined by the modulation process of the spatial light modulator 512. The second surface 506 receives the modulated third beam and reflects the modulated third beam to the second sub-surface 508, and the curvature of the second surface 506 does not play a role during this reflection process. The grating assembly provided on the second sub-surface 508 diffracts the received modulated third beam to emit a fourth beam. The grating assembly acts as a lens during this diffraction process. The second surface 506 receives the fourth beam, and the second surface 506 reflects the fourth beam to the first sub-surface 504, and the curvature of the second surface 506 does not play a role during this reflection process. The first sub-surface 504 receives the fourth beam, and the first sub-surface 504 transmits the fourth beam to another port of the fiber array, and this another port refers to a port other than port 502.

[0192] In addition, for a second beam, the number of the above-mentioned third beams can be multiple, and the above-mentioned third beams can be regarded as collimated beams, or approximately collimated beams. The above-mentioned collimated beam refers to a beam in which the light rays in the beam propagate almost parallel. The characteristic of a collimated beam is that the divergence angle of the light rays is very small, and the cross-section of the beam remains relatively stable during propagation. The above-mentioned approximately collimated beam refers to a beam in which the light rays are close to parallel during propagation but not completely parallel. Compared with a completely collimated beam, the divergence angle of an approximately collimated beam is slightly larger, but it still has low divergence and high directivity.

[0193] In addition, during the process in which the second light beam output from port 502 is transmitted to the second surface 506 through the first sub-surface 504, the propagation direction of the second light beam is represented by direction S1. During the process in which the fourth light beam is reflected from the second surface 506 to the first sub-surface 504, the propagation direction of the fourth light beam is represented by direction S2. Then, direction S1 is parallel to direction S2, and direction S1 is opposite to direction S2.

[0194] In this way, the optical component can cooperate with the spatial light modulator to achieve switching between ports.

[0195] Figure 6 It is a schematic diagram of the principle of another optical signal propagation according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0196] Figure 6 Exemplarily shows the principle of optical signal propagation in the dispersion direction.

[0197] As Figure 6 shown, exemplarily, the principle of optical signal propagation in the dispersion direction in the optical component can be represented by the yoz plane. The z-axis is used to represent the propagation direction of the light beam in the optical component. In the optical component, the grating component disperses the received light beam into multiple sub-light beams in the yoz plane, or the grating component combines multiple received sub-light beams into a signal light in the yoz plane. The y-axis is used to determine the dispersion direction. Among them, Figure 6 the y-axis in Figure 4B is the same coordinate axis as the y-axis in the xoy plane in Figure 6 the yoz plane in Figure 2 is the same plane as the yoz plane in Figure 6 and the y-axis in Figure 2 is the same coordinate axis as the y-axis in Figure 6 and the z-axis in Figure 2 is the same coordinate axis as the z-axis in

[0198] As Figure 6 shown, the fiber optic array 602 and the beam changing unit ( Figure 6(not shown) is connected, and the fiber optic array 602 inputs the first light beam into the optical component through the beam transformation unit. The first sub-surface 604 of the optical component receives the first light beam. The second surface 606 of the optical component receives the first light beam from the first sub-surface 604 and reflects the first light beam to the second sub-surface 608. During this reflection process, curvature comes into play. Reference can be made to the corresponding description part where the second surface intersects the first plane at the first cross-sectional curve with curvature. The second sub-surface 608 is provided with a grating component, and the grating component disperses and emits multiple sub-light beams according to the received first light beam. The second surface 606 also receives multiple sub-light beams from the second sub-surface and reflects the multiple sub-light beams to the third sub-surface 610. During this reflection process, curvature comes into play. Reference can be made to the corresponding description part where the second surface intersects the first plane at the first cross-sectional curve with curvature. The third sub-surface 610 is connected to the spatial light modulator 612, and the third sub-surface 610 outputs each sub-light beam from the optical component to the spatial light modulator 612 to modulate each sub-light beam through the spatial light modulator 612.

[0199] The above-mentioned y-axis is used to determine the dispersion direction, and it can be understood in this way: During the process that the grating component disperses and emits multiple sub-light beams according to the received first light beam, the wavelengths of each sub-light beam are different. The wavelength of each sub-light beam can be regarded as a sub-wavelength of the first light beam, and the propagation direction of each sub-light beam can be regarded as a dispersion direction.

[0200] Taking any two first light beams as examples for exemplary illustration, in the case where the wavelengths of the two first light beams are different, the sub-wavelengths included in the two first light beams may be different. Furthermore, the propagation directions of the multiple sub-light beams corresponding to the two first light beams may be different. That is, for two first light beams with different wavelengths, their dispersion directions may be different, and their dispersion and emission processes both follow the principles of light diffraction and interference. Exemplarily, the dispersion and emission process can refer to the diffraction equation of the grating component described above.

[0201] The diffraction equation of the grating component can refer to the following formula (1): (1) where n is the effective refractive index of the grating component, is the grating period, is the incident angle, θ d is the diffraction angle, m is the diffraction order, and λ is the diffraction wavelength.

[0202] where the incident angle represents the angle at which the first light beam is incident on the grating component. For first light beams with different wavelengths, their incident angles are the same. The diffraction angle θ dRepresents the angle at which the grating component disperses and emits sub - beams. For sub - beams of different wavelengths, their diffraction angles θ d are different.

[0203] On the one hand, referring to Figure 6 , both the first beam and the multiple sub - beams belong to the yoz plane; on the other hand, referring to Figure 4B , the grating component 406 includes grating units 408 arranged periodically along the first direction, and the grating units 408 are arc - shaped along the second direction; the first direction is orthogonal to the second direction. Exemplarily, the grating component 406 can be in the xoy plane, where the x - axis represents the second direction and the y - axis represents the first direction, that is, the grating component 406 includes grating units 408 arranged periodically along the y - axis direction, and the grating units 408 are arc - shaped along the x - axis direction. Combining the above two aspects, it can be known that the incident angle and the diffraction angle θ d are both related to the first direction represented by the y - axis. For any one sub - beam, the diffraction angle θ d of this sub - beam and the first direction can be jointly used to determine the dispersion direction corresponding to this sub - beam.

[0204] Therefore, the y - axis can be used to determine the dispersion direction.

[0205] When the first beam is received on the first sub - surface 604 of the optical component, and the second surface 606 of the optical component receives the first beam from the first sub - surface 604, the size of the light spot becomes larger, and the small light spot becomes a large light spot, that is, the optical signal represented by the first beam is amplified during the propagation process.

[0206] A light spot refers to a local light intensity distribution area formed in an optical system during the propagation of a light beam due to various factors, such as diffraction, scattering, aberration, etc.

[0207] The increase in the size of the light spot is caused by the transformation unit in the first preset component performing Gaussian beam transformation on the first beam output by the fiber array.

[0208] The transformation equation of the Gaussian beam is as follows: (3) Among them, is the waist radius of the light spot before Gaussian beam transformation, is the waist radius of the light spot after Gaussian beam transformation, f is the equivalent focal length of the transformation unit, and λ is the wavelength of the Gaussian beam.

[0209] A Gaussian beam refers to a beam whose cross-sectional light intensity distribution takes the form of a Gaussian function. The waist radius refers to the minimum spot size of the Gaussian beam at the focus. During the propagation of the Gaussian beam, the spot size changes with the propagation distance, and the waist radius is the position where the spot size is the smallest.

[0210] Exemplarily, the optical fiber used in the fiber array can be a single-mode optical fiber with a mode field radius of 5 µm. The waist size of the spot passing through the beam transformation unit can be represented by 16 µm in the dispersion direction × 50 µm in the port switching direction.

[0211] During the process of reflecting the first beam to the second sub-surface 608 at the second surface 606, the first beam is converted into a collimated beam, or, the first beam is converted into an approximately collimated beam.

[0212] During the process of the grating component dispersing the first beam into multiple sub-beams and emitting them to the second surface 606, the size of the spot becomes smaller, the large spot becomes a small spot, that is, the optical signal represented by the sub-beam is reduced during the propagation process.

[0213] As Figure 6 shown, exemplarily, the grating component disperses the first beam 1 into sub-beams 614, sub-beams 618, and sub-beams 622, etc. The second surface 606 reflects the sub-beam 614 to the third sub-surface 610, and the curvature of the second surface 606 plays a role in this reflection process, and the light propagation direction is as Figure 6 shown; the second surface 606 reflects the sub-beam 616 to the third sub-surface 610, and the curvature of the second surface 606 plays a role in this reflection process, and the light propagation direction is as Figure 6 shown; the second surface 606 reflects the sub-beam 618 to the third sub-surface 610, and the curvature of the second surface 606 plays a role in this reflection process, and the light propagation direction is as Figure 6 shown. The wavelengths of the sub-beams 614, sub-beams 618, and sub-beams 622 are different from each other.

[0214] In this way, three first beams are dispersed by the grating component into nine sub-beams, and every three sub-beams form a group of parallel light. For example, between the second surface 606 and the third sub-surface 610, the sub-beams 614, sub-beams 616, and sub-beams 618 can be regarded as a group of parallel light.

[0215] As Figure 6As shown, when nine sub-beams reach the third sub-surface 610, every three sub-beams converge at a point. The three sub-beams converging at the same point respectively originate from different first beams, and the wavelengths of the three sub-beams converging at the same point are the same. That is, when the number of first beams in the optical component is multiple and each first beam disperses into multiple sub-beams, in the third sub-surface 610, the sub-beams with the same wavelength converge to a point, and the sub-beams converging to a point can be regarded as a group of sub-beams. Since the wavelengths are the same, the spatial light modulator 612 can modulate the sub-beams belonging to the same group together.

[0216] For example, each group of sub-beams is incident on the specified area of the LCOS and arranged in sequence according to the predefined standard wavelengths. Furthermore, the LOCS modulates the optical signals respectively based on each standard wavelength, thereby realizing wavelength division multiplexing. It should be noted that the LCOS can modulate the propagation direction of the optical signal in the port switching direction, causing the optical signal to deflect in direction, but in the dispersion direction, the LCOS does not modulate the propagation direction of the optical signal, as Figure 6 shown, the nine sub-beams belong to the optical signals in the dispersion direction, so the propagation direction of the sub-beams is not affected by the modulation and can return along the original path in the optical component.

[0217] The spatial light modulator 612 performs modulation processing on the sub-beams to obtain the modulated sub-beams, and inputs the modulated sub-beams into the optical component. The third sub-surface 610 receives the modulated sub-beams from the spatial light modulator 612. The second surface 606 receives the modulated sub-beams from the third sub-surface 610 and reflects the modulated sub-beams to the second sub-surface 608, and the curvature of the second surface 606 plays a role in this reflection process.

[0218] In addition, it should be noted that although the spatial light modulator 612 can modulate the sub-beams with the same wavelength together during the modulation process of the sub-beams, after the modulation is completed, during the transmission of the sub-beams from the spatial light modulator 612 to the second sub-surface 608, each sub-beam can be regarded as returning along the original path. Furthermore, the grating component provided on the second sub-surface 608 can aggregate each sub-beam to obtain a first beam including different wavelength components, so as to realize wavelength division demultiplexing.

[0219] For example, before modulation, three first beams are dispersed into nine sub-beams by the grating component, and after modulation, the nine modulated sub-beams are aggregated into three first beams by the grating component.

[0220] Furthermore, the grating component transmits the first light beam to the second surface 606. The second surface 606 receives the first light beam and reflects the first light beam to the first sub-surface 604, and the curvature of the second surface 606 plays a role in this reflection process. The first light beam outputs from the optical component through the first sub-surface 604 and reaches the fiber array 602 through the beam transformation unit.

[0221] Through the above-mentioned optical signal propagation principle of port switching direction and the above-mentioned optical signal propagation principle of dispersion direction, the optical signal propagation process and its principle in the optical component provided by the embodiments of the present application are exemplarily illustrated.

[0222] Referring to the above-mentioned optical signal propagation process, in the optical component provided by the embodiments of the present application, a single grating component can be used to achieve the dispersion function in the dispersion direction and the focusing effect in the port switching direction respectively, improving the component integration degree, reducing the space size, simplifying the optical path design, and most of the propagation process of the optical signal is located inside the optical component, which can avoid passing through the air medium as much as possible and improve the optical signal transmission performance.

[0223] Embodiment III The above is the optical component provided by the embodiments of the present application. Based on the same idea, the embodiments of the present application also provide a grating component.

[0224] The grating component provided by the embodiments of the present application includes grating units arranged periodically along a first direction, and the grating units are arc-shaped along a second direction; the first direction is orthogonal to the second direction; the grating component is used to disperse a received first light beam into a plurality of sub-light beams.

[0225] The grating component provided in this Embodiment III can be combined with Figure 4B for exemplary illustration. Figure 4B It is a schematic diagram of another grating component provided according to an embodiment of the present application. As Figure 4B shown, the grating component 406 includes grating units 408 arranged periodically along a first direction, and the grating units 408 are arc-shaped along a second direction; the first direction is orthogonal to the second direction.

[0226] The arc curvature of the grating unit 408 can be used to represent the curvature of the geometric shape of the surface of the grating unit 408, that is, this arc curvature can be used to represent the bending degree of the arc presented by the grating unit 408 along the second direction.

[0227] Exemplarily, the x2 phase can be used to represent the arc curvature of the grating unit.

[0228] In this implementation manner, the arc curvature of the grating component can be determined according to the incident angle of the optical signal and the focal length achieved by the grating unit.

[0229] For example, for the grating component, the value range of the incident angle of the optical signal can be between 50 degrees and 80 degrees, and the value range of the focal length achieved by the grating component can be between 40 mm and 200 mm.

[0230] Taking the incident angle of the first light beam incident on the grating component as x1 and the focal length achieved by the grating component as y1 as an example, x1 is an angle between 50 degrees and 80 degrees, and y1 is a length between 40 mm and 200 mm. Then, the arc curvature of the grating component can be determined according to x1 and y1.

[0231] Again, for example, for the grating component, the value range of the incident angle of the optical signal can be between 30 degrees and 50 degrees, and the value range of the focal length achieved by the grating component can be between 40 mm and 200 mm.

[0232] Taking the incident angle of the first light beam incident on the grating component as x2 and the focal length achieved by the grating component as y2 as an example, x2 is an angle between 30 degrees and 50 degrees, and y2 is a length between 40 mm and 200 mm. Then, the arc curvature of the grating component can be determined according to x2 and y2.

[0233] In three-dimensional space, the first direction is orthogonal to the second direction. In the same plane, the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction. The first direction can be any direction. After determining the first direction, a direction orthogonal to the first direction can be used as the second direction.

[0234] The grating component provided in the third embodiment can achieve the dispersion effect and the lens effect in two different directions respectively. Furthermore, applying this grating component to the optical component provided in the above embodiment is beneficial to simplifying the internal structure of the component and improving the integration degree.

[0235] In a specific implementation manner, the grating component is used to disperse and emit a plurality of sub-beams according to the first light beam incident along the third direction. The projection of the third straight line representing the third direction on the grating component represents the first direction, and each sub-beam is a light component generated after the first light beam is dispersed by the grating component.

[0236] The third direction refers to the propagation direction of the first light beam during the process that the grating component disperses and emits a plurality of sub-beams according to the first light beam.

[0237] The projection of the third straight line representing the third direction on the grating component can be regarded as the projection of the third straight line on the plane where the grating component is located.

[0238] The projection of the third straight line representing the third direction on the grating component represents the first direction. In this way, when the grating component receives the first light beam incident along the third direction, assuming that the angle between the third straight line representing the third direction and the plane where the grating component is located is the first angle, and the angle between the third direction and the first direction is the second angle, then the first angle and the second angle are complementary. For example, if the angle between the third straight line and the plane where the grating component is located is 60 degrees, then the angle between the third direction and the first direction is 120 degrees. Also, considering that the grating component includes grating units arranged periodically along the first direction, which is the structural basis for the grating component to achieve the dispersion effect. Therefore, when the first light beam is incident on the grating component, light components of different wavelengths will exit in different directions according to the dispersion principle of the grating, thereby achieving the dispersion effect based on the first direction.

[0239] Each sub-beam is a light component generated after the first light beam is dispersed by the grating component. Each sub-beam can correspond to a specific wavelength, or each sub-beam can correspond to a specific wavelength range. The wavelength or wavelength range corresponding to each sub-beam can be determined by the spectral characteristics of the first light beam and the resolution of the grating component.

[0240] This implementation mode can be combined with Figure 4B for exemplary illustration. The plane where the grating component is located can refer to the xoy plane in the foregoing Figure 4B The first direction can refer to the y-axis direction. Specifically, the first direction may be the same as the y-axis direction or may be opposite to the y-axis direction. The grating component is used to disperse and emit multiple sub-beams according to the first light beam incident along the third direction. The projection of the third straight line representing the third direction on the grating component can refer to the y-axis direction. Each sub-beam is a light component generated after the first light beam is dispersed by the grating component.

[0241] In a specific implementation mode, the third direction and the propagation directions of multiple sub-beams are both located in the first plane. The first plane is perpendicular to the second plane. The second plane is determined by the first direction and the second direction. The first plane and the second plane intersect at the first straight line, and the first straight line represents the first direction.

[0242] In the optical component provided by the embodiment of the present application, the grating component can be used to disperse and emit multiple sub-beams according to the received first light beam. Then, the propagation direction of each sub-beam can be regarded as a dispersion direction. Furthermore, a plane can be determined based on multiple dispersion directions, and this plane is the first plane.

[0243] For example, the first light beam is transmitted to a grating assembly. The grating assembly disperses and emits light according to the received first light beam, obtaining three sub-beams. The emission angles of each sub-beam are different. For the grating assembly, the dispersion direction may include the propagation directions of these three sub-beams, and may also include the propagation directions of some sub-beams that may not be observable.

[0244] Based on the propagation directions of these three sub-beams, a plane can be determined. This plane is the first plane. The propagation direction of the first light beam is the third direction. The third direction and the propagation directions of the multiple sub-beams are all located in this first plane.

[0245] In the first plane, the grating units in the grating assembly are arranged periodically. And the grating assembly can play a role in dispersion in the first plane.

[0246] In three-dimensional space, for any plane, there are two planes perpendicular to this plane. Specifically in this implementation, the first plane is perpendicular to the second plane, and the second plane is determined by the first direction and the second direction.

[0247] For example, the first plane is plane 1. In three-dimensional space, plane 2 is perpendicular to plane 1, and plane 3 is perpendicular to plane 1. Considering that the first direction and the second direction are orthogonal, that is, the first direction and the second direction are not parallel, then according to the first direction and the second direction, a plane that includes both the first direction and the second direction can be determined, that is, plane 2. Plane 2 can be determined as the second plane, and it can be determined that plane 3 is not the second plane.

[0248] The first plane and the second plane intersect at a first straight line, and the first straight line represents the first direction.

[0249] In this implementation, by making the first plane and the second plane perpendicular, and the first plane and the second plane intersect at a first straight line, and the first straight line represents the first direction, when a first light beam whose propagation direction belongs to the first plane is transmitted to the grating assembly, the dispersion function of the grating assembly including grating units arranged periodically along the first direction can be utilized to separate light of different wavelengths and achieve purposes such as wavelength selection and multiplexing.

[0250] In a specific implementation, the grating assembly is further configured to diffract and emit a third light beam according to a second light beam incident along a fourth direction. The projection of the fourth straight line representing the fourth direction on the grating assembly represents the second direction, and the third light beam is focused on a preset area.

[0251] The fourth direction refers to the propagation direction of the second light beam during the process in which the grating assembly diffracts and emits the third light beam according to the second light beam.

[0252] The projection of the fourth straight line representing the fourth direction on the grating component can be regarded as the projection of the fourth straight line on the plane where the grating component is located.

[0253] The projection of the fourth straight line representing the fourth direction on the grating component represents the second direction. In this way, when the grating component receives the second light beam incident along the fourth direction, assuming that the angle between the fourth straight line representing the fourth direction and the plane where the grating component is located is the third angle, and the angle between the fourth direction and the second direction is the fourth angle, then the third angle and the fourth angle are complementary. For example, if the angle between the fourth straight line and the plane where the grating component is located is 60 degrees, then the angle between the fourth direction and the second direction is 120 degrees. Considering that the grating unit is arc-shaped along the second direction, which is the structural basis for the grating component to realize the lens effect, when the second light beam is incident on the grating component, the third light beam diffracted and emitted by the grating component can be focused on a preset area, realizing the lens effect based on the second direction.

[0254] This implementation can be combined with Figure 4B The plane where the grating component is located can refer to the aforementioned Figure 4B In the xoy plane, the second direction can refer to the x-axis direction. Specifically, the second direction may be the same as the x-axis direction or may be opposite to the x-axis direction. The grating component is used to diffract the second light beam incident along the fourth direction to emit a third light beam, and the projection of the fourth straight line in the fourth direction on the grating component can refer to the x-axis direction, and the third light beam is focused on a preset area.

[0255] In a specific implementation, the fourth direction and the propagation direction of the third light beam are both located in a third plane, the third plane is perpendicular to the second plane, the second plane is determined by the first direction and the second direction, the third plane intersects the second plane at a second straight line, and the second straight line represents the second direction.

[0256] In the first plane, the second plane and the third plane, each of them is perpendicular to each other, and the first plane intersects with the second plane at a first straight line, the first straight line represents the first direction, the third plane intersects with the second plane at a second straight line, the second straight line represents the second direction, and the first direction is orthogonal to the second direction.

[0257] Among two planes perpendicular to the first plane in three-dimensional space, the second plane and the third plane can be distinguished as follows: the second plane includes the first direction and the second plane includes the second direction; the third plane includes the second direction and the third plane does not include the first direction.

[0258] The grating component can also diffract and emit a third light beam according to a second light beam incident in a fourth direction. When the number of second light beams is multiple, each second light beam has a corresponding third light beam. Furthermore, multiple third light beams can be focused on a preset area. The fourth direction and the propagation direction of the third light beam are both located in a third plane.

[0259] That is, the grating component can act as a lens in the third plane, so that multiple light beams incident on the grating component are focused on a specified area after diffraction and emission. The grating component can have a focal length.

[0260] In this implementation, by making the third plane perpendicular to the second plane, and the third plane intersects the second plane at a second straight line, and the second straight line represents a second direction, it can be ensured that when a second light beam whose propagation direction belongs to the third plane is reflected by the second surface to the grating component, the grating component including grating units in an arc shape along the second direction can be used to achieve the focusing effect.

[0261] In another specific implementation, the grating component is used to disperse and emit multiple sub-light beams according to a first light beam incident along a third direction. The projection of a third straight line representing the third direction on the grating component represents a first direction, and each sub-light beam is a light component generated after the first light beam is dispersed by the grating component; and, the grating component is also used to diffract and emit a third light beam according to a second light beam incident along a fourth direction. The projection of a fourth straight line representing the fourth direction on the grating component represents a second direction, and the third light beam is focused on a preset area.

[0262] Due to the similar concept, this implementation can be regarded as a technical solution obtained by combining the foregoing multiple implementations, and reference can be made to the corresponding description part in the previous text.

[0263] In yet another specific implementation, the grating component is configured to disperse a first light beam incident along a third direction into a plurality of sub-beams. The projection of a third straight line representing the third direction on the grating component represents a first direction, and each sub-beam is a light component generated after the first light beam is dispersed by the grating component; the third direction and the propagation directions of the plurality of sub-beams are both located in a first plane, the first plane is perpendicular to a second plane, the second plane is determined by the first direction and a second direction, the first plane intersects the second plane at a first straight line, the first straight line represents the first direction, and a second surface intersects the first plane at a first cross-sectional curve with curvature, and the curvature is used to change the reflection direction of the first light beam; and, the grating component is further configured to diffract a second light beam incident along a fourth direction into a third light beam. The projection of a fourth straight line representing the fourth direction on the grating component represents the second direction, and the third light beam is focused on a preset area; the fourth direction and the propagation direction of the third light beam are both located in a third plane, the third plane is perpendicular to the second plane, the second plane is determined by the first direction and the second direction, the third plane intersects the second plane at a second straight line, the second straight line represents the second direction; the second surface intersects the third plane at a second cross-sectional curve with zero curvature.

[0264] Due to the similar concept, this implementation can be regarded as a technical solution obtained by combining the foregoing multiple implementations, and reference can be made to the corresponding description part above.

[0265] In this way, by making the first plane perpendicular to the second plane and the first plane intersect the second plane at a first straight line representing the first direction, when a first light beam whose propagation direction belongs to the first plane is reflected by the second surface to the grating component, the dispersion function of the grating component including grating units periodically arranged along the first direction can be utilized to separate lights of different wavelengths and achieve purposes such as wavelength selection and multiplexing; by making the third plane perpendicular to the second plane and the third plane intersect the second plane at a second straight line representing the second direction, when a second light beam whose propagation direction belongs to the third plane is reflected by the second surface to the grating component, the focusing effect can be achieved by using the grating component including grating units in an arc shape along the second direction. Furthermore, in the optical component provided by the above implementation, the grating component can be used to simultaneously achieve the dispersion function in the first plane and the focusing effect in the third plane without adding additional devices, achieving a high integration effect.

[0266] In a specific implementation, the grating component is a blazed grating, and the diffraction orders of the grating component include positive and negative first diffraction orders.

[0267] A blazed grating is a specially designed grating component that can concentrate light energy into a specific diffraction order, thereby improving the efficiency of the grating. Compared with ordinary gratings, a blazed grating changes the shape of the grating grooves, enabling more light energy to be diffracted into the desired diffraction order rather than being scattered into other diffraction orders.

[0268] The diffraction orders of the grating component can include the diffraction order of the +1 level or the diffraction order of the -1 level.

[0269] The diffraction equation of the grating component can refer to the following formula (1): (1) where n is the effective refractive index of the grating component, is the grating period, is the incident angle, θ d is the diffraction angle, m is the diffraction order, and λ is the diffraction wavelength.

[0270] Specifically, in the embodiment of the present application, during the process in which the grating component disperses the received first light beam into multiple sub-beams, the first light beam can include multiple sub-beams, and the incident angles of the multiple sub-beams are the same, and the diffraction angles θ of the multiple sub-beams d are different from each other, and the θ of each sub-beam d is determined by the wavelength of the sub-beam.

[0271] Due to the similar technical concepts, the description of this embodiment is relatively simple, and reference can be made to the corresponding description part in the above embodiment.

[0272] Embodiment Four For the same idea as the optical component provided in the above embodiment, the embodiment of the present application also provides a wavelength selection switch, which includes each structure in the optical components shown in the foregoing embodiments.

[0273] The wavelength selection switch can include an optical fiber array, a beam transformation unit, a spatial light modulator, and the optical component provided in any one of the foregoing embodiments; wherein, the optical fiber array is connected to the beam transformation unit, the beam transformation unit is connected to the first sub-surface of the optical component, and the spatial light modulator is connected to the third sub-surface of the optical component.

[0274] The optical fiber array is used to transmit the first light beam to the beam transformation unit.

[0275] The beam transformation unit is used to input the first light beam into the optical component through the first sub-surface.

[0276] The first sub-surface is used to receive the first light beam input by the beam transformation unit.

[0277] The second surface of the optical component is configured to receive the first light beam from the first sub-surface and reflect the first light beam to the second sub-surface of the optical component. The second sub-surface is provided with a grating component, which is configured to disperse and emit multiple sub-light beams according to the received first light beam.

[0278] The second surface is further configured to receive the multiple sub-light beams from the second sub-surface and reflect the multiple sub-light beams to the third sub-surface.

[0279] The third sub-surface is configured to output each sub-light beam from the optical component to the spatial light modulator.

[0280] An optical fiber array can be a component that integrates multiple optical fibers together in a specific arrangement, and is usually used in fields such as optical communication, optical sensing, optical imaging, and spectral analysis. The design and manufacture of the optical fiber array are aimed at achieving efficient optical signal transmission and processing, while maintaining precise alignment and stability between the optical fibers. Specifically in the embodiments of the present application, the optical fiber array can transmit and receive optical signals.

[0281] A beam transformation unit is an optical element that is responsible for switching and routing between different wavelengths to achieve dynamic allocation and scheduling of optical signals. Specifically in the embodiments of the present application, the beam transformation unit can achieve dispersion and spot transformation in the port direction.

[0282] Exemplarily, the beam transformation unit can be composed of a microlens array and / or a polarization diversity unit, can be a PLC optical waveguide, or can be a component such as a Meta-surface with the function of a beam transformation unit.

[0283] The optical fiber array and the transformation unit can be encapsulated together to form an integrated component. In this way, the optical path propagating inside the integrated component does not come into direct contact with the ambient air, which is beneficial to reducing the interference of the air medium on the optical signal transmission.

[0284] A spatial light modulator is an optical device that can spatially modulate the amplitude, phase, or polarization state of light waves.

[0285] Exemplarily, the spatial light modulator can include one or more of the following: polarization-independent PI-LCOS, LCOS, MEMS, and other modules with modulation functions.

[0286] The modulation of optical signals refers to the process of loading information onto light waves by changing certain characteristics of light waves, such as amplitude, frequency, phase, or polarization state, and so on.

[0287] The connection relationships of the components in the wavelength selection switch can refer to the corresponding description part of the foregoing embodiments of the optical component.

[0288] Due to the similar technical concepts, the description of this embodiment is relatively simple, and reference can be made to the corresponding description part in the above embodiment.

[0289] Embodiment Five Based on the same idea as the wavelength selection switch provided in the above embodiment, the embodiment of the present application also provides an optical cross-connect device, which includes each structure in the wavelength selection switches shown in the foregoing embodiments.

[0290] An optical cross-connect device is a key device for realizing optical signal routing, switching, and protection switching in an optical network. It can directly operate on optical signals in the optical domain and has advantages such as high bandwidth, low latency, high reliability, and flexibility. Optical cross-connect devices are widely used in fields such as optical transmission networks, wavelength division multiplexing networks, data center interconnections, metropolitan area networks, and long-haul optical networks, and are an important part of modern optical networks.

[0291] Due to the similar technical concepts, the description of this embodiment is relatively simple, and reference can be made to the corresponding description part in the above embodiment.

[0292] Each embodiment in the present application is described in a progressive manner. For the same or similar parts among the embodiments, reference can be made to each other. Each embodiment focuses on the differences from other embodiments. In particular, for the system embodiment, since it is basically similar to the method embodiment, the description is relatively simple, and reference can be made to the corresponding description part of the method embodiment for the relevant parts.

[0293] The above description is only for the embodiments of the present application and is not intended to limit the present application. For those skilled in the art, various changes and modifications can be made to the present application. Any modifications, equivalent replacements, improvements, etc. made within the principle of the present application shall be included within the scope of the claims of the present application.

Claims

1. An optical component, applied to a wavelength selective switch, characterized in that: include: A first surface and a second surface respectively located at two ends of the optical component; wherein the first surface includes a first sub-surface, a second sub-surface and a third sub-surface; The first sub-surface is used to receive a first light beam input from the outside; The second surface is used to receive the first light beam from the first sub-surface and reflect the first light beam to the second sub-surface; The second sub-surface is provided with a grating component, and the grating component is used to disperse and emit a plurality of sub-beams according to the received first light beam; The second surface is further used to receive the multiple sub-beams from the second sub-surface and reflect the multiple sub-beams to the third sub-surface; The third sub-surface is used to output each sub-beam from the optical component.

2. The optical component according to claim 1, characterized in that The first sub-surface is adjacent to the second sub-surface, and an angle between the first sub-surface and the second sub-surface is smaller than a first angle threshold; the first sub-surface is adjacent to the third sub-surface.

3. The optical component according to claim 1, characterized in that The third sub-surface is adjacent to the second sub-surface, and an angle between the third sub-surface and the second sub-surface is greater than a second angle threshold; and the first sub-surface is adjacent to the third sub-surface.

4. The optical component according to claim 1, characterized in that The grating assembly includes grating units periodically arranged along a first direction, and the grating units are arc-shaped along a second direction; the first direction is orthogonal to the second direction.

5. The optical component according to claim 4, characterized in that The grating component is used to emit multiple sub-beams according to the dispersion of the first light beam incident along a third direction. The projection of a third straight line representing the third direction on the grating component represents the first direction. Each sub-beam is a light component generated after the first light beam is dispersed by the grating component.

6. The optical component according to claim 5, characterized in that The third direction and the propagation directions of the multiple sub-beams are both located in a first plane, the first plane is perpendicular to the second plane, the second plane is determined by the first direction and the second direction, the first plane and the second plane intersect at a first straight line, the first straight line represents the first direction, and the second surface intersects with the first plane at a first cross-sectional curve with a curvature, and the curvature is used to change the reflection direction of the first light beam.

7. The optical component according to claim 4, characterized in that The grating component is further used to diffract and emit a third light beam according to the second light beam incident along a fourth direction, the projection of a fourth straight line representing the fourth direction on the grating component represents the second direction, and the third light beam is focused on a preset area.

8. The optical component according to claim 7, characterized in that The fourth direction and the propagation direction of the third light beam are both located in a third plane, the third plane is perpendicular to the second plane, the second plane is determined by the first direction and the second direction, the third plane intersects with the second plane at a second straight line, and the second straight line represents the second direction; the second surface intersects with the third plane at a second cross-sectional curve with zero curvature.

9. The optical component according to claim 1, characterized in that: The grating component is a blazed grating, and the diffraction orders of the grating component include first diffraction orders in positive and negative directions.

10. The optical component according to claim 1, characterized in that The second surface is a curved surface and is a reflector surface, or the second surface is a curved surface and is provided with a cylindrical reflector, or the second surface is a curved surface and is provided with a metasurface component.

11. The optical component according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that: The optical component comprises a body, the first light beam and the plurality of sub-light beams are transmitted in the optical component through the body, and the body is made of glass.

12. A grating assembly, characterized in that: The grating assembly comprises grating units periodically arranged along a first direction, and the grating units are arc-shaped along a second direction; the first direction is orthogonal to the second direction; The grating component is used to emit a plurality of sub-beams according to the dispersion of the received first light beam.

13. The grating assembly according to claim 12, characterized in that The grating component is used to emit multiple sub-beams according to the dispersion of the first light beam incident along a third direction. The projection of a third straight line representing the third direction on the grating component represents the first direction. Each sub-beam is a light component generated after the first light beam is dispersed by the grating component.

14. The grating assembly according to claim 13, characterized in that The third direction and the propagation directions of the multiple sub-beams are both located in a first plane, the first plane is perpendicular to a second plane, the second plane is determined by the first direction and the second direction, the first plane intersects with the second plane at a first straight line, and the first straight line represents the first direction.

15. The grating assembly according to claim 12, characterized in that The grating component is further used to diffract and emit a third light beam according to the second light beam incident along a fourth direction, the projection of a fourth straight line representing the fourth direction on the grating component represents the second direction, and the third light beam is focused on a preset area.

16. The grating assembly according to claim 15, characterized in that The fourth direction and the propagation direction of the third light beam are both located in a third plane, the third plane is perpendicular to the second plane, the second plane is determined by the first direction and the second direction, the third plane intersects with the second plane at a second straight line, and the second straight line represents the second direction.

17. The grating assembly according to claim 12, characterized in that The grating component is a blazed grating, and the diffraction orders of the grating component include first diffraction orders in positive and negative directions.

18. A wavelength selective switch, characterized in that: The optical component comprises an optical fiber array, a beam transformation unit, a spatial light modulator, and the optical component according to any one of claims 1 to 11; wherein the optical fiber array is connected to the beam transformation unit, the beam transformation unit is connected to the first sub-surface of the optical component, and the spatial light modulator is connected to the third sub-surface of the optical component; The optical fiber array is used to transmit the first light beam to the light beam transformation unit; The beam transformation unit is used to input the first beam into the optical component through the first sub-surface; The first sub-surface is used to receive the first light beam input by the light beam transformation unit; The second surface of the optical component is used to receive the first light beam from the first sub-surface and reflect the first light beam to the second sub-surface of the optical component; The second sub-surface is provided with a grating component, and the grating component is used to disperse and emit a plurality of sub-beams according to the received first light beam; The second surface is further used to receive the multiple sub-light beams from the second sub-surface and reflect the multiple sub-light beams to the third sub-surface; The third sub-surface is used to output each sub-beam from the optical component to the spatial light modulator.

19. An optical cross-connect device, characterized in that: Comprising the wavelength selective switch as claimed in claim 14.

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